Yonex EXBOLT 68 Review

The Yonex EXBOLT 68 is a string that feels like it was designed by listening to the collective sighs of badminton players everywhere who were tired of choosing between “extra thin” performance and “industrial strength” durability.

If you’ve been looking for a string that lets you smash with authority without hearing that dreaded snap every three sessions, you’ve arrived at the right place. Let’s break down why this 0.68 mm powerhouse is making waves on the court.

The Specs at a Glance

Before we dive into the “feel,” let’s look at the DNA of the EXBOLT 68:

Feature	Specification
Gauge	0.68 mm
Material	High-Intensity Nylon Multifilament
Technology	Oval Forged Fiber (FORGED FIBER)
Coating	Elasticity Outer
Available Colors	Flash Orange, Lime Green, Turquoise, Flash Red, Yellow, Black, White

Power Meets Resilience: The “Forged Fiber” Secret

The headline for the EXBOLT 68 is undoubtedly its durability rating of 11. In the world of Yonex charts, that is an elite-tier score. Usually, when you see a durability score that high, you expect a thick, sluggish string that feels like hitting with a fishing net.

However, Yonex uses what they call Oval Forged Fiber. By forging the fibers into an oval shape rather than a standard circle, they can pack the fibers tighter and increase the intermolecular bonding. This means you get the strength of a much thicker string while maintaining a relatively slim 0.68 mm gauge.

Repulsion Power (Rating: 9)

Don’t let the focus on durability fool you—this string is snappy. With a Repulsion Power of 9, it offers a very satisfying “instant” bounce. If you are a player who relies on quick drives and defensive clears, you’ll notice that the bird flies off the string bed with very little effort. It’s significantly more “alive” than the industry-standard BG65.

The Hitting Experience: Sound and Shock

While the Hitting Sound (Rating: 8) isn’t the piercing “crack” you get from an ultra-thin 0.61 mm string, it’s still sharp and metallic. It provides excellent auditory feedback on sweet-spot hits, which is vital for building confidence during a high-speed match.

The one trade-off is the Shock Absorption (Rating: 6). Because the fibers are forged to be dense and stiff for durability and repulsion, the string is quite “hard.” If you have a history of tennis elbow or prefer a soft, dampened feel, you might find this string a bit jarring at higher tensions. However, for most competitive players, this stiffness translates into better Control (Rating: 10). You can feel exactly where the shuttle is on the string bed, allowing for precise net tumbles and tight slices.

Who is this string for?

The EXBOLT 68 is the “Goldilocks” string for a few specific types of players:

The Heavy Smasher: If you break strings frequently but hate the “mushy” feel of thick strings, the EXBOLT 68 gives you the durability to survive your power game without sacrificing the speed of your smash.
The All-Rounder: With a control rating of 10, it’s a dream for players who play a tactical game—lots of drops, lifts, and placement shots.
The Value Seeker: Since it lasts longer than the thinner EXBOLT 63 or 65, you’ll spend less time at the stringing shop and more time on the court.

Final Verdict

The Yonex EXBOLT 68 is a masterclass in compromise—but not the kind where you lose out. It manages to bridge the gap between “performance” and “longevity” better than almost any other string in the current Yonex lineup. It’s crisp, it’s tough, and it comes in enough colors to make your racket look like a piece of art.

If you want a string that stays at its “peak tension” feel for longer and can handle the heat of a 30-lb tension smash, the EXBOLT 68 is your new best friend.